Sue Ikeler

Laura Suzanne “Sue” Phillips Ikeler was born March 23, 1940, and died peacefully in her sleep May 15, 2024, in Houston, Texas, after battling pancreatic cancer. Sue was born in Altoona, Pennsylvania, to loving parents Donald and Esther (nee Knox) Phillips. She had one brother, Knox, whom, despite being 10 years older, she loved dearly. She grew up in the sleepy town of Camp Hill, Pennsylvania. She went on to attend University of Pittsburgh where she was a cheerleader and a member of Delta Delta Delta women’s fraternity.

At Pitt, Sue met and fell in love with Fredrick Taylor “Dutch” Ikeler. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Physical Education, Sue and Dutch married. They had two boys, David and Rick, in Pennsylvania before making the move to Texas where Sue would give birth to their daughter, Sue-Ella.

Sue originally had plans to go into teaching but Texas required her to have Texas history. She missed the deadline to take the appropriate course at University of Houston, so a neighbor, Linda Mafrige, talked her into taking real estate classes instead. With her license in hand, Sue went to work for Linda’s husband, Ron Mafrige, who introduced both women to the world of commercial real estate. She, Linda and beloved friend Lorene Wait would all later go on to work for the infamous Mel Powers during the height of the Texas oil boom in the 1980s. Sue had much success in the Houston market and was among one of the first women to break the glass ceiling in commercial real estate.

When oil hit an all-time low causing a ripple effect of hardship for other industries including real estate, Sue made the move to property management working for Merrill Lynch. Later, she met and formed a lasting friendship with Kim Dydalewicz, who convinced her to come teach real estate at her and her mother, Rita Santamaria’s company, Champions School of Real Estate.

Finally, Sue had made it to her original professional dream of teaching, and in combining that with her knowledge and experience in real estate, Sue found her niche. She loved what she did and taught for Champions for some 25 years, earning Teacher of the year in 2006. The number of students lives she touched and encouraged cannot be counted. She would often provide her personal cell phone number to students who would contact after hours and on weekends with questions or to help with math problems. She counted her Champions colleagues and students as family and formed lifelong friendships with many, including Dorothy Barringer, Byron Underwood, Jay Gilden and too many others to name.

Above all things, Sue loved being a mother. She was proud of her children, their spouses, grandchildren, and one great grandchild. She lived to shower them with love and was her happiest when spending time with her children. She also loved traveling, any day at the beach, slot machines, Oscar watch parties with friends Harold and Linda Childs, and playing bridge with the women’s crew from the Meadows.

Sue is preceded in death by her father, mother and brother, Don, Esther, and Knox Phillips, her grandson, Reid Jacob Mueller, and her ex-husband and father of her children, Dutch Ikeler. She is survived by her children, their spouses, grandchildren, and one great grandchild including David and Melanie Ikeler, Madison and Gordon Williford, and Colton Ikeler; Rick and Lois Ikeler; Sue-Ella and Rick Mueller, Makayla, Christopher and Easton Lipp, Rylan Mueller and Hamilton Paret, and Caden Mueller.

The family wishes to thank Sue's caregiver, Lisa McNeal, for all the love and kindness she provided to their mother during the last four months of her life.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, May 23, 2024, at 1 pm, at Fishers of Men Lutheran Church, 2011 Austin Parkway, Sugar Land, TX, 77479. Flowers may be sent directly to the church, however, in lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations in Sue’s name be made to either Fishers of Men Lutheran Church (address above) or St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 717 Sage Road, Houston, TX 77056.